Multiple-ply sanitary metal can



Dec. 4, 1928.

A. MOORE MULTIPLE PLY SANITARY METAL CAN Original Filed April l5. 1922 1N VEN TOR A TTORNE Y l Patented Dec. 4, l1928.

yUNiTl-:D STATES .ARLINGTON MOOR, OFNEW YOR-II7 N. Y., ASSIGNVGR TO MOORE INVENTIO COR- PORATION, OF \VORCESTEE, MASSACL'USETTS, ACORLFORATION OF MASSACHU- ,PATENT OFFICE.

MULTIPLE-FLY SANITARY METAL CAN."

nppncation flied April 15,v 1am,l semi My invention relates to. sanitary metal containers and'more particularly to niet-al cans adapted for contain-ing food products and the like. l y

A feature of the invention relates to the provision of a metal can wall of substantial, uniform thickness.

Another feature relates to the provision of a seal for the ends of a can in which the use of gaskets is entirely eliminated. and the metal parts of the container itself ,are arranged effectually to prevent leakage of the contentsof the container. Other objects will appear from the'following description taken'in connection with the accompanying drawing inwhich Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of metal container with parts brokenaway embodying features of my invention. `Figs. 2 to 7 show successive steps inthe formation of the container. F ig. 8 is a transverse cross-section of t-he container, and Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the joint ofk Fig. 8.

Referring-to the drawing there is shown one embodiment of my invention comprising a side wall 10 formed from a sheet of relatively thin metal, whichmay be formed in any desired shape, having its ends in planes substantiallyl perpendicular to the aXis of the structure. As. shown,` a structure of cylindrical shape is provided.`

The can body 10 of the present invention is made of multiple thickness inorder to avoid all possibility of leakage at the side seam. Such can bodyl may be constructed onla suitable mandrel (not shown), upon which a strip of sheet metal whose Y width isV f tinued until one or more additional revolutions have been completed. Two layers or plys 11 and 13 are shown. If more than two layers are provided,.the intermedia-te layers are each crimped at the portion of the periphery corresponding to the leading edge portion of the sheet, and the strip is cut 'ofi' of such lengt-h that itis substantially in. alignment with the opposite No. 553,211. Renewed April 19, 1h284 or leading edge of t-he sheet, and they outer l cut edge fit-s into the crimp 12- of the plv beneath it, vas -showng'in Fig. 9. ,The various layers` thus form collectivelythe can vbody 10 andthe ends of the wrapped up strip may be secured in place as bymeans of solder. In this way there is no'overlapping of the opposite edge of the sheet forming the can body and a can body of uniform thickness is produced, so that all parts thereof act substantially alike in seaming on the can heads,v and the metal is continuous at all parts so there is no possibility of leakage as may occur at the .usual side seam of a one-thickness can body. Where the can body is made of two thicknesses orconvolutions, as shown herein7 the metal made use ofA is preferably of about one-half the gauge ordinarily usedras will be readily understood.

Vhile the closure herewith described `may be used only on the lid end of the ca`n,and

the can bottomV may be secured in place in loutwardly displaced '-or .expanded with respect to the .main portion 11b thereof a distance which is preferably substantially equal tothe thickness of the .can body, as

shown in Fig. 2, though such displacement may be more or less than this precise amount. The provision ofv shoulder 15 makes it possible to support' and hold. the

`can firmly during the formation of the i heading seam and also servesv asY a stop for` A the lid or closure when put in place in the can body. Y v The 'closure-member 17 which may 4form either the bottom or the top ofthe completed can, or both, as above' indicated, is 3rovided with a marginal flange 18 vwhic is turned or flanged over so as to lie'closely against the expanded portion 16 of the can bodyas indicated in Fig. 2 when the closure member 17 is inserted in place resting against theshoulder 15 1n the'canbody.

The enlarged end portion 1910i? the can l body is longer than the flange 18,`the

ltially l180". v y f i Next the parts 'are turned f inwardly a l second time from the position shown in Fig. 4 to thatot -Fig. The Vbend line for this relative dimensions being preferably, about as indicated in Fig.A 2.

The first step in forming the heading `seam i consists in turning the outer end19 of the eirpanded end portion 16 of thecanbody, extending ,beyond the lid ange 18, inwardly over the edge of said flange, iirst as shown in 3 and then as shown in Fig.v 4, completing a turningr movement `of substanoperation preferably comes at substantially the middle of the lid flange 18, as shown in Fig. 5. When this is done a seam is formed about `the :endet the can, which comprises p. of thecan body eight'layerscf metal, as shown in Figs. 5, G and` 7 p with the two thickness .portion 19 originally forming the extreme outer edge ply lseamf This marginal p enormous pressure applied both to the sides and to the end of the seam, bringing the parts first into vthe relative positionsshown in Fig. andfinally into thepositions shown in Fig, 7. Thepressure applied is preferably sufficiently great to cause an' actual flowing or elongation of the metal, result- Y ing in the filling out of all openv spaces in theseam With'the Vineti'il to produce substanl tially a thick heavy ring about the canhead,

^ proved seam certain portions of the metal* as shown at 20, Fig. 1.' In this way the".`

parts are forced into. such intimate'eontact that a junction is secured, equivalent in elfect to the formation about `the can head;

of a welded .ring of substantial thickness andv great mechanical strength. l .i AThe-metal parts of ring seam 20 being in intimate Contact; leakage is elfectually pre-y vented-and all gasket-sor linings as hereto-y fore required are completelydispensedwith.'

Itwill be seen that" in forming 'my im making up" the sealnare turnedover` through Van arc` of as Vmuch as 270 to a complete circle of 360, part 19 of the can body, for exu ample, being turned over in the finished position "to the extent last named to extend V.substantially parallel to and in the same direction as -inits original position as shown in Fig. 2.

lll)

. The construction of theijoint in -jthevean body as previously described, such-that the thickness of the sidewall `of the can is substantially the same at the joint as itis throughout the rest ofV the periphery of the can. Thus informing the seal Vfor the ends of the can'the bending operation is the same -throughout'the periphery and may be perf.

formed Without special precautions `being taken relative tothe joint. It will thus be seen that an effective seal formed which `reference being had in the center ofthe eightr seam is4 subjected` toV is liquid and air tight in "a simple and elii` cient manner. p

The process of making the improved seam herein described isfnot claimed herein, but is claimed in my copending application SerialNoSl, file don even date here*` with. j p y l The claims of thefpresent application are directed tothe structure including the Inulti-` ple-ply can body, which is in interseamed with the can head or heads, Claims for such intersearned structure not limited to .theV multiple-ply can body beinglcontained inV my copending application Serial No. 553- V2127 liledon even date herewith.

An illustrative embodiment has.. been shown for the "purposeof showing a Wa in which the invention may be practice but itis expressly understood that thescope -o the invention is not to be limited thereby,

to the appended claims l` for that purpose.

Iclaim: l 1. A metal container having a wall or body portion made up of a sheet formed into a plurality of plies, the :thickness of the Wall being substantially uniform, `and -u closure member having edgeportions adjacentto and in .intimate contactwith `:end portionsof said'wall, said adjacentportions being. turned over, Vinterlocked andv pressed together toseal the container. 1

. 2.' A metal container having a Wall-or body member and an end member, `the Wall member beingmade up of a single sheet formed into `a pluralitylof la ers and havingasub stantially uniform t iokne, vthe adjacent edge4 portions of Vsaid members being in intimate Contact, turned over inwardly in an interlock7 and pressed together to the i container. J Y, f m- 3. A metal container comprisinga Wall .or member made of a single sheetforned into-a plurality of layers, thethickness of the wall being substantially uniform, andan 11o endv member having edge portions Vadjacent to'and in intimate contact with end portions f of said Wall, the extreme edge portionof at least onej of "said members being turnedover through an arc of approximately 360, i Y f 4. 'In a sheet metal can, a seamless multiple ply can body of uniform thickness,

and faclosure thereof, the edges of said can body andclosureV being united in Va seam comprising two reverisely turnedportions of lis the metal of theclosure and three rever'sely turned portions of the can body.

made` up of a single sheet formed into a plurality of layers, the thickness of the Wall "5. A metal container comprising a body being substantially uniform, and a closure member having edge portions adjacent to end portions of saidwall member folded and refolded inwardly, the extreme edge j portion of atleast one of said members4 being turned over through an kare of approximately up of a plurality of layers and of uniform thickness throughout said can body, said can body having an outwardly expanded and shouldered portion at an end thereof, aA

flanged closure received within the can body and resting against said shoulder, and a seam uniting said can body and closure, lsaid seam including two foldsl of the closure flange and three folds of the can body all compressed under high pressure and in intimate contact. u

8. In a sheet metal can, a body portion comprising two complete vconvolutions of sheet metal having their edgesin substantial alignment and the body material Ollset between them so as to provide an uninterrupted continuous wall, said body having anrexpanded and shouldered end, and a closure member received in said bod resting against said shoulder, and the ec ges of the can body and closure being united in a seamV com risinof two reversel turned ortions b c v Y of ythe material of the closure and three reversely turned double ply portions of the can body, the extreme edge portion of the can body being located at the central portion of said seam. f 1

In testimony whereof, I have signed my i name hereto.

Y ARLINGTON MOORE. 

